Ski tow mechanism



SKI TOWMECHANISM Filed Dec. 23, 1940 7 Patented June 9, 1942 UNITED STAT ES Aren't" OFFICE SKI T'OW MECHANISM Application December 23, 1940, Serial No. 371,237

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ski tow mechanism.

More particularly the invention pertains to an improved ski tow of the type which has a power driven, endless conveyor-like member which skiers grip inorder to be pulled up an incline.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide an improved rope-type conveyor-like ski tow member which does not tend to turn about the longitudinal axis of its up-hill runand thus to avoid the difficulties skiers have heretofore had in retaining a firm grip on the tow.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a double rope ski tow which has cleats for holding the turns of the rope in fixedspaced relation and that serve also to prevent twisting of the. rope about its longitudinal axis as well as to cooperate with the tow driving mechanism in positively driving the rope conveyor-like element.

A further object of the invention is the provision of resiliently yielding grip elements on the conveyor member which afford a convenient purchase and which yield when initially gripped by a skier, during operation of the tow, sufliciently to cushion the shock normally encountered during acceleration of the skier from a standing position to the velocity of the tow.

Still further objects of the invention are the provision of improved idler tensioning devices at diverse locations throughout the length of the tow which are so guarded and located with respect to the grip elements'as to obviate injury to the hands of a skier, and the provision of improved gear type driving mechanism which is so confined as to prevent accidental contact therewith.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a ski tow embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the ski tow shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of an improved grip element showing the structure by which it is secured to the conveyor member of the ski tow.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view taken on line 1-4 of Fig. 2'.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a grip element which may be used alternatively with respect to the grip element shown in Fig. 4.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, the improved ski tow apparatus is shown as being arranged to propel skiers up an incline. At the upper end of the towing apparatus there is located a base member l0 on which is mounted a gear housing H and a motor l2 for driving the ski tow. Journalled in the housing H is a shaft [3 which is connected by a coupling M to the shaft l5 of the motor. The shaft I3 is supported in journal bearings l6 and I! carried by the housing H. Mounted on the end of the shaft [3 remote from the motor I2 is a bevel gear ll which is meshed with a gear 18 that is fixed on a shaft l9 disposed substantially normal to the shaft [3 and extending through the upper wall of the housing H and journalled in a bear 20 mounted thereon. A pinion 2| is fixed to the upper end of the shaft l9 and located externally of the housing ll.

Aligned shaft supporting elements 22 and 23 are mounted on the opposite sides of the top wall of the housing II for supporting a shaft 24 on which is journalled a pulley wheel 25 having a peripheral flange 26 which is provided on its inner side with internal gear teeth 21 that are meshed with the teeth of the pinion 2|. The pulley wheel 25 is thus rotatably driven py the motor 17., shaft l3, bevel gears 11 and [8, pinion Zl and gear teeth 21.

A pulley wheel 28 is disposed in alignment with the wheel 25 and located at the lower end of the incline up which it is desired to propel skiers. The wheel 28 is journalled on a shaft 29 to which is attached a clevis 39. The latter is supported on a shelf 3| disposed between upright pairs of posts 32 and 33, respectively, and is provided with a threaded stem 34 by which it may be adjustably positioned longitudinally of the incline to tension the ski tow. The stem 34 is connected by an adjustable turnbuckle mechanism 35 with a threaded stem 35 mounted in an upright support 31 which is securely anchored at the lower extremity of the ski tow.

The pulley wheels 25 and 28 support an endless conveyor member, generally designated by the numeral 38, which includes a pair of turns of flexible material 39, such as rope or the like. Parallel turns of the conveyor 38 are held in spaced relation and against twisting about their longitudinal axes by uniformly spaced cleats, generally designated by the numeral 40. Each cleat 40 comprises a looped portion 4| surrounding one of the turns 39 of the conveyor 38 and firmly gripping the same. Selected cleats 40 are provided with an intermediate looped portion 42, as shown in Fig. 4, in which is mounted a handle 43 which provides a purchase for the skiers.

The outer periphery of the pulley wheel 25 is provided with spaced grooves 44 in which the turns 39 of the conveyor 38 are received. These grooves are connected at uniformly spaced locations by axially extending channels 45 which accommodate the cleats 43. The channels 45 are spaced circumferentially of the periphery of the pulley 25 a distance equal to the corresponding distance between successive cleats of the conveyor. With this construction, the cleats 40 serve as cogs to obtain a positive drive from the pulley 25 to the conveyor 38 and also hold the turns 39 of the conveyor 38 in spaced parallel relation and prevent twisting thereabout. The pulley wheel 28 has grooves 44 in its periphery which are preferably substantially aligned with the grooves 44 of the pulley wheel 25 and which are connected by spaced channels 45' which accommodate the cleats 48.

The handles 43 extend outwardly and downwardly at an inclination to the conveyor 38 and include a shank portion having an enlarged knob 48 at their free extremities. Each shank portion preferably comprises rubber or other suitable elastic material which is adapted to elongate when pulled upon by the force exerted in accelerating the skier to the speed of movement of the conveyor.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8 a band type of handle 49 is attached at spaced locations 50 and to the conveyor 38, preferably by the cleats 42 or other suitable means. The band 49 preferably comprises rubber or other elastic material which will also serve to cushion the shock applied to a skier as he initially grips the handle of the conveyor. If desired, separate band type handles 49 may be arranged along the length of the conveyor or a single integral band may be extended along the conveyor and secured thereto at spaced locations.

Provided along the conveyor 38 and between the respectively opposite sides of the turns thereof are a pair of idler wheels 52 which are slidably mounted on a transversely extending strut 53 located at the opposite sides of the conveyor. These wheels are yieldably urged outwardly to prevent the opposite sides of the conveyor from moving inwardly toward each other by springs 54 acting upon levers 55. Each lever 55 is pivoted at one end on a strut 56 and its opposite end is provided with an aperture through which the shafts 51 of the pulley wheels extend, there being an arcuate slot 58 in the strut 53 to accommodate movement of the pulleys.

The periphery of each idler wheel 52 is provided with a channel 46 in which is mounted a body of rubber or other suitable material 41 which contacts with the side runs of the conveyor. A shield 59 is disposed above each pulley wheel 52 and provided with a depending flange 68 which extends in advance of the conveyor 38 while accommodating projection of the handles 43 or 49 into an accessible position during operation of the conveyor.

Although but several forms of the invention are herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that various changes including the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and it is not my intention to limit the scope of the latter other than by the terms of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A ski tow comprising spaced pulley members each having a pair of circumferential peripheral grooves, an endless conveyor member mounted on said pulley members comprising a pair of substantially parallel flexible bands each guided in corresponding grooves of said pulley members, a plurality of cleats each fixed to registering portions of both of said bands for holding portions of the latter between said pulley members in spaced relation and adapted to hold said bands against twisting about their respective axes, resiliently extensible hand grip elements secured to selected cleats of said conveyor member, said elements being yieldable when gripped by a skier for cushioning shock occasioned by acceleration of the latter to the speed of movement of said conveyor member, and apparatus for drivingly rotating one of said pulley members to propel said conveyor member.

2. A ski tow comprising spaced pulley members each having a pair of circumferential peripheral grooves joined at equally arcuately spaced locations by connecting axially extending peripheral notches, an endless conveyor member mounted on said pulley members comprising a pair of substantially parallel flexible bands each guided in corresponding grooves of said pulley member, a plurality of cleats each fixed to registering portions of both of said bands and spaced longitudinally of said conveyor bands substantially equal distances corresponding to the arcuate distances between the notches of said pulley members, said cleats being adapted to fit into said notches during rotation of said pulley members and movement of said conveyor member thereby for establishing a positive drive between said pulley members and said conveyor member, resiliently extensible hand grip elements secured to selected cleats of said conveyor member, said hand grip elements being yieldable when gripped by a skier for cushioning shock occasioned by ac celeration of the latter to the speed of movement of said conveyor member, and means for drivingly rotating one of said pulley members to propel said conveyor member.

3. A ski tow comprising spaced pulley members each having a pair of circumferential peripheral grooves, an endless conveyor member mounted on said pulley members comprising a pair of substantially parallel flexible bands each guided in corresponding grooves of said pulley members, a plurality of cleats each fixed to registering portions of both of said bands for holding portions of the latter between said pulley members in spaced relation and adapted to hold said bands against twisting about their respective axes, idler pulley members disposed between said first mentioned pulley members for retaining opposite runs of said conveyor member in spaced relation, a shield having a web portion disposed over each idler pulley member and a depending flange in advance of the peripheral portion thereof adjacent said conveyor member, outwardly inclined hand grip elements fixed at spaced locations to said conveyor member and projecting therefrom out of the plane of said shield flange, and apparatus for drivingly rotating one of said first mentioned pulley members to propel said conveyor member.

4. A ski tow comprising spaced pulley members v spaced relation and adapted to hold said bands against twisting about their respective axes, idler pulley members disposed between said first mentioned pulley members for retaining opposite runs of said conveyor member in spaced relation, a shield having a Web portion disposed over each idler pulley member and a depending flange in advance of the peripheral portion thereof adjacent said conveyor member, outwardly inclined hand grip elements fixed at spaced locations to said conveyor member and projecting therefrom out of the plane of said shield flange, said hand grip elements comprising an extensible rubber bar fixed at one end to said conveyor member and having a free end provided with an enlarged knob, and apparatus for drivingly rotating one of said first mentioned pulley members to propel said conveyor member.

DAVID A. WALLACE. 

